Seduce Me (The Heart Series)

by Angela Estienne

  “Who are you? & how did you get this number?”

  I got up still feeling confused and tired, I headed straight for the bathroom, another cold shower should wake me up before work, it was such a late night, I needed more sleep. I went to the kitchen and made a coffee, I really needed the caffeine buzz or I would never get to work on time.

  I was feeling really worried about Rachel, I was wondering how she was taking the fact Zale really wasn’t interested in her. I set off for work, still pondering over the text message I had received last night, I was hoping for a reply during the night, but as yet nothing, no reply, absolute zero.

  Rachel stood outside waiting for me. I loved that about her, the fact she couldn’t wait to see me on a morning. It set me up for the day, put me in a good mood, she was always so bubbly. I was starting to trust her, and respect her as a friend, which was odd really, we had only known each other for five days, I couldn’t wait for her to meet Caitlin. I knew they were going to hit it off right away.

  “Morning Jazz.”

  “Morning Rachel.”

  “Jazz?”

  “Yes.”

  “Look I am really sorry for trying to set you up on a blind date, I didn’t think, it was so stupid of me.”

  “Rachel, it’s like this hun, you had no way, absolutely no way of knowing, so don’t feel guilty, it is just one of them things. I am more worried about you, how are you feeling after last night?”

  “I am fine, I think I got wrapped up in his looks and the idea of him. Now I have socialised with him, I don’t really like him anymore in that way, there are plenty more fish in the sea, right?”

  “Absolutely.” We both burst out laughing.

  “I have got loads to tell you over lunch.”

  “Sounds good, and don’t forget I need an explanation for you hiding last night, don’t forget now.”

  “I will see you at lunch, have a good morning.” I stepped towards her and gave her a cuddle.

  I walked around the back and heard Zale singing away.

  “Someone is very happy this morning.” He turned around to look at me.

  “I had a wonderful night out, thank you.”

  “It was a good night, I agree, we will have to do it again sometime.”

  “Really, that would be wonderful.”

  “So are we in for a busy day again?”

  “We certainly are.”

  “Shame I could have done with a bit more of a relaxing day.”

  The morning went so fast, lots and lots of parcels to get delivered, it was the busiest I had ever been. I was going to miss working with Zale next week when I would be working on my own. I wondered if it was going to be like this every Friday? If it was, I was glad I had Saturday’s off work to recuperate, I was dying, all I wanted was to get home and have a long soak in the bath. I was glad I had the afternoon off from work, I didn’t think I would have made it through a shift in the coffee shop feeling like this.

  When I got back to the depot I couldn’t wait to go for my lunch with Rachel and tell her about Mr blue eyes. I found Rachel and we headed off.

  “So come on, I need to know why you were hiding last night?”

  “Mr blue eyes was in the restaurant and I caught him staring over at us.”

  “Mr Perfect was their last night? I wish you had of told me, I would have gone up to him and said hello.”

  “So that is probably why I didn’t tell you.” She had a very wicked grin on her face.

  “There is nothing wrong with been polite.”

  “I don’t want to encourage anything with him.”

  “Why not? He is sex on legs.”

  “Well we are all entitled to our own opinion.”

  “You know he is into you.”

  “I am not sure what his game is.”

  “Game?”

  “Yeah, I think he is trying to flirt with me, but I could be wrong.” I didn’t want to tell her about the kiss from the other night.

  “What makes you think he is trying to flirt?”

  “I don’t know, it sounds really silly now I am thinking about it again, forget I said anything.”

  “I will do no such thing, now you need to tell me.”

  “He seems to turn up everywhere I am, the things he says to me, and the other day he brushed my hand with his fingers when I was handing him his change, I know it all sounds daft, I think I have an over active imagination, that’s all.”

  “So what sort of things does he say?” She bent over and took a drink of orange out of the straw.

  “The first day he came in, his pen dropped on the floor as I was bringing him his sandwich, I bent over to pick it up and he made a fly comment. Then he told me he wanted the same thing for lunch when he came in on Tuesday, but if I didn’t have it ready he was going to smack my bum, I thought he was joking. This was our first meeting. How could he be serious?”

  “So did he come back on Tuesday?”

  “Yes, he wasn’t amused when his sandwich wasn’t ready.”

  “So did he smack you then?”

  “No, he said he owed me one. He reappeared on Wednesday, and lifted me off the ladders.”

  “Yeah you mentioned that yesterday.”

  “Did I tell you he wanted another BLT ready for him when he arrived?”

  “No, you missed that bit out.” She had a very ‘I can’t believe you didn’t tell me everything’ look on her face.

  “Then on Thursday, I hadn’t got his sandwich ready, so he said he owed me three smacks. I enquired how it had gone up to three, so he said I was trying to get rid of him on Wednesday.”

  “And were you?”

  “Hell yeah I was.”

  “So then I realised he hadn’t told me what he wanted to drink, so I went over and asked him.”

  “So what did he want then?”

  “Me, he wanted to drink me, I felt so embarrassed.”

  “Oh my god, I told you he was hot for you.”

  “You haven’t heard the best bit yet.”

  “There’s more? Please do tell.”

  “When he came up to pay the bill, he handed the money over to me and he grabbed my hand.”

  “No.”

  “Oh yes, I pulled my hand away and asked him what he thought he was doing.”

  “So what did he say when you asked him that?”

  “He said I had sexy hands, so petite.”

  “Wow, now you have to admit he is hot for you.”

  “You still haven’t heard the best bit yet.” She leaned forward again and took another drink from the straw.

  “Come on then, what happened next?”

  “He told me my nails were amazing and asked me if they were my own.”

  “That’s boring, I was expecting a big finish.”

  “Well then you won’t be disappointed. I then told him they were my own and then he replied, he would love to feel them down his back.”

  “Jasmine, I am so jealous of you. Yes he is flirting with you, the other night, he couldn’t take his eyes off you, I think he really likes you.”

  “Well I will have to persuade him otherwise, I am definitely not available for his pleasure.”

  “I would be.” I looked at her.

  “And now it has dawned on me now that he said he would see me Monday and not today. Do you think that is a coincidence? Or do you think he knows my rota?”

  “He probably knows your boss, a man like that will know loads of people.”

  “Yeah, well at least that is one mystery solved.”

  “See it’s good to talk.”

  “Oh and I didn’t tell you about the text message I got after Thursday night’s dinner did I?”

  “No what text message?” I opened up my phone and searched for the message.

  “Here you go, get a good look at this then.” I handed her the phone.

  “‘You looked stunning tonight, xxx.’ So who was that off?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Text them back and ask
who they are?”

  “I already did, look.” She handed me my phone back, and I brought up the message I had sent back.

  “‘Who are you? & how did you get this number?’ So what did they reply.”

  “They haven’t, it’s all very strange.”

  “God you have a complicated life Jasmine, I am glad mine isn’t as hectic as yours, I don’t know how you cope.”

  “Seriously, I don’t.” We both stared at the table for a bit, neither one of us knowing what to say next.

  “Right I had better get going, I have a long drive ahead of me, but I will catch up with you on Monday.”

  “Have a good weekend Jazz.”

  “You too, bye Rachel.”

  I got back to the house and started to pack my weekend bag, I couldn’t wait to see Cat and her family, they were amazing. After my own parents wrong doings in trying to raise me, I was working in Scarborough and York, that’s when I met Cat, we got on so well, her parents then more or less took over raising me when I hit my late teens, I called them my adoptive Mum & Dad.

  I put my bag in the van and off I went. I pulled into a motorway café, I was starving, the first day in a long time that I wanted food, so I ordered a ham salad sandwich with an orange juice. It went down a treat, when I had finished I thought I had better text Caitlin, at least then she knew I was on route.

  “Hi Cat, been driving for about two hours, I’m at the services I should be with u in about two hours, J xxx.”

  I was getting very excited to be spending the weekend with Cat, but then my tummy did that sinking feeling, a deep sickness hit. I still don’t know what the meeting was all about at the solicitors, but there was nothing I could do about it until tomorrow, so I went back to my van. I was all-caffeinated up, as I sat in the seat, I took a few deep breaths and put the radio on, now I was ready to set off again.

  I had made great time, I didn’t hit any standing traffic. I got out of the van and Cat was at the door to meet me. She ran up to me to give me a huge cuddle, she spun me around and around, she put her hands into mine and held me at arm length, she scanned me up and down with her eyes, a very concerned look appeared on her face.

  “You have lost weight,” she said.

  “No I haven’t I have put it on with not being able to run.”

  “Come on, let’s get you settled in for the weekend.” She took my bag off me and we walked into the house. Dylan was stood with one hand on his hip, tapping his foot, giving me attitude.

  “You are a bad girl Jazz,” he said.

  “I know, I am sorry Dylan, I didn’t mean to make you worry.” He could never stay mad at me for long. He walked over and gave me the biggest cuddle ever.

  “Ok, ok let me breathe.” He kissed me on the cheek and put me down.

  “You have lost weight, why aren’t you eating properly?”

  “Not you as well, I have had the same conversation with Cat, I have put weight on not lost it.” Dylan was like a proper brother to me, he was never ‘improper’ with his behaviour towards me. I trusted him and Cat with all my heart.

  Cat and I sat at the kitchen table, I started filling her in on all the gossip, I told her all about my house, Mr blue eyes, Rachel, Zale and Lee. It felt good to be able to open up and not worry about what I had to say.

  “Where are your mum and dad? I wanted a cuddle, I thought they might be here to see me.”

  “They have had to go away for a few days, Aunty Cathy is ill.”

  “No, I hope she will be all right, send them my love.” After our long, long catch up session, I headed up for bed. I had the solicitor to deal with in the morning, so I needed as much sleep as I could get.

  I woke up again, sweating profusely, screaming, tears running down my face, the same nightmare again with a few small changes, finding it hard to breathe, being upside down, my head was hurting, flashing blue lights, I could see big black wheels, and some red metal. Then the screaming came in, the screaming was almost hysterical, voices talking quietly.

  “Because of you, because of you.” The same line was being repeated over and over again, but I still couldn’t see their faces. Cat and Dylan came running into the bedroom.

  “Jazz, are you all right?” I was feeling dazed and confused. They sat on the bed. Then Caitlin took me in her arms and cradled me.

  “Hush now, you are safe.” She told Dylan to go and get some tissues. When he got back he handed one to me, I was almost curled up in the foetus position. Every night a nightmare would appear, I couldn’t get rid of them, the details changing were so confusing, I saw some terrible images in my sleep.

  I talked the nightmare through with Caitlin and Dylan, they thought the wheels and the red metal could be the fire engine, they had to cut me out of the car. At least one part made partial sense. They said I was screaming for help, screaming for someone to tend to Greg, that’s all I kept saying. So that’s how they knew I was having another nightmare. The hospital told them that when I was brought into the hospital all I was doing was screaming. I was shouting the same lines over and over again ‘Someone needs to help Greg, come on someone please Greg needs help.’ I wished I could remember, this was so frightening, not being able to remember the full events of that night.

  I woke up and went downstairs for my breakfast, Cat had just popped out to do some shopping but Dylan was there, he made me a coffee and put a few slices of bread in the toaster for me.

  “How are you feeling after your nightmare?”

  “I don’t know what to feel to be honest, numb, confused.” We left the subject alone after that.

  “Can I ask a favour Jazz?”

  “You can always ask.” I started laughing.

  “Very funny, would it be all right to move to Newtown with you? I have just split with my girlfriend and I could do with getting away for a bit.” He was an editor for a magazine. He worked from home so there were no issues.

  “I will have to ask Mar to see if it would be all right, if she agrees I would have no problems with it.” He picked me up and spun me around again.

  “You’re the best Jazz.”

  “I know.” I just smiled at him.

  I got changed to get ready for the solicitors office, I was so nervous, I was convinced they were suing me for living. Cat arrived back home in the nick of time, she had been caught up in traffic.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  “I think so, but I don’t really want to go anyway, I would much rather just stay here with you two for the weekend.”

  “I want to come with you hun.”

  “No really Cat, I will be fine once I am there.”

  “I am coming with you.”

  “So you weren’t really asking me then were you? You were telling me.”

  “No, I was asking, I know you, I am worried for you, that’s all.”

  “Seriously I will be fine on my own, you don’t need to worry about me.”

  “I am coming, like it or not.”

  “So you were telling me then?”

  “Yes I suppose I was, I know you think you will be fine, but deep down you know you need me there by your side, supporting you with whatever is getting throw at you now.”

  “Fine, come if you wish then.” I knew I didn’t stand a chance with Cat, she was too well versed in winning an argument, but I think in my heart I knew she was right. I really did want her there. I actually needed her there with me, holding my hand, giving me that look, ‘that it will all be all right in the end.’ Together we could take anything on that life slung at us.

  The drive there was a sombre one. It was as if I was heading for my own execution. I could just see the hangman’s noose hanging from the timber framework. I step up onto a wooden block, Mrs Mitchell is putting the noose around my neck and Mr Mitchell staring at me with such hatred, then he would pull the leaver for the trap door. They would both stand their laughing at me whilst I was hung there, I can hear them talking, we told you we wanted you dead.

  We arrived at the solicit
or’s office with thirty-five minutes to spare, I got out of the car and walked away. Caitlin got out and followed me. We sat on a nearby wall together and she put her arm around my shoulder.

  “Don’t worry hun.” I couldn’t reply. I had gone into shock I think, it was just all getting too much, the build-up was killing me, “I won’t let them hurt you.” I turned to face her.

  “Cat, I hurt every day, I work two jobs just to try and get away from my own brain, the pain never go’s, and then with my nightmares, they are always on my mind, and now this on top of losing my fiancé, I just can’t take much more.”

  “I know hun, I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all go away and bring Greg back for you, I really wish I had that sort of power.” She pulled me in even closer. I felt her warmth and the love radiating from her. I knew if she really possessed such powers that she would do it for me, just like I would for her. I was so glad she was my friend, I felt very privileged having her by my side and in my corner, I would lay my life down for her in a heartbeat. Then my phone buzzed, a text message, I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at the text.

  “Good luck J, knock the f****rs out, we lv u, D.” I got a warm glow in my stomach.

  “Your brother really is just the sweetest guy, you are so lucky having a brother that caring.”

  “We are lucky having a brother that caring.”

  “Thanks Cat, I love you, don’t ever leave me please.” I felt tears appear in my eyes, so I decided to text Dylan back.

  “Thanks D, I lv u 2, J xxx.”

  Then my phone bleeped again, now was he going to come back with a funny comment to lighten the mood?

  “Good Luck, I know you will be fine xxx.”

  “I don’t believe it.”

  “What?” I showed her the message.

  “So?”

  “So I have no idea who this is from. I also got a text the other night from a mystery number.” I showed her the message.